Tonsillitis involves inflammation of the tonsils. This condition is typically triggered by a viral infection or bacteria in uncommon cases. It is considered as a common infection in children but can also occur in adults.
Symptoms of tonsillitis
- Sore throat that feels worse while swallowing
- Headache
- Cough
- High body temperature or fever higher than 38 degrees C
In most cases, the symptoms of tonsillitis typically pass within 3-4 days.
Close look on the tonsils
The tonsils are two small-sized glands that rest on either side of the throat. Among young children, they work by fighting off germs and serves as a barrier against infection. Once the tonsils are infected, they isolate the infection and prevent it from spreading further into the body.
As the immune system develops and becomes stronger, the tonsils are less vital and typically shrink. In many individuals, the body can fight off infection without the tonsils. The removal of the tonsils might only be recommended if they are responsible for triggering issues such as frequent or severe episodes of tonsillitis.
Causes of tonsillitis
In most cases of tonsillitis, they are caused by a viral infection such as viruses responsible for causing common cold or the flu virus. Some cases are due to a bacterial infection, particularly a strain of the bacteria known as group A streptococcus bacteria.
Remember that these types of infections easily spread, thus it is vital to avoid spreading the infection to others by taking into consideration the following:
- Avoid staying in public areas such as school or the workplace until the doctor will allow.
- Sneezing and coughing into a tissue and proper disposal of the tissue used.
- Proper washing of hands before eating, after using the toilet and after sneezing or coughing if possible.
When to seek further care
Tonsillitis is not considered as a serious condition. A doctor should only be consulted if the symptoms persist longer than 4 days and there are no signs of improvement and if the symptoms are severe which disrupts with eating or drinking as well as difficulty breathing.
The main indications that tonsillitis is due to a bacterial infection include the following:
- Absence of cough
- High temperature or fever
- Swollen and tender lymph nodes
- White pus- filled spots on the tonsils
Further testing might be required if the individual has at last two of the symptoms mentioned. If three are present, it is likely to be bacterial tonsillitis and antibiotics are usually prescribed.
Treatment for tonsillitis
Take note that there is no specific treatment for tonsillitis but there are several measures that can help alleviate the symptoms such as the following:
- Provide the individual with plenty of fluids to drink
- Provide the individual with ibuprofen or paracetamol to reduce the level of pain
- Encourage the individual to get enough rest
In case the tonsillitis is due to a bacterial infection, a short course of oral antibiotics might be started. If the oral antibiotics are not effective in managing the bacterial tonsillitis, intravenous antibiotics might be required in the hospital.